Improvement in adjustable window-curtains



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE JOHN G. MITCHELL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN ADJUSTABLE WINDOW=CURTAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 211,339, dated January 14, 1879; application tiled November 19, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. MITCHELL, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjusting Window-Ourtains,of which the following is a specication:

This invention relates to the construction of window-shade guides intended to make the shades roll evenly, and to sluit ont the light that usually passes between the edge of the shade and the window-Casin g when the shade is hung in the ordinary manner.

It consists,'mainly, in the use, with the shade, of buttons sliding in guides, whereby the chafing of the shade against the guides is prevented, the shade allowed to readihy yield to a gust of wind, and the cost of such shades is much reduced.

In the `accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front view of my proposed improvement; Fig. 2,a side view, and Fig. 3 a detail of the button and guide.

A represents the guide, which in this case is made of sheet metal, bent up as shown in Fig. 3, and attached to the front of the window-casing B. Mounted on a roller in the usual manner is the shade O, to which are attached buttons D, two or more on each side, although usually two are snfcient. These buttons are provided with broad shanks, bent at right angles, as shown in Fig. 3. By means of these Shanks the buttons are attached to the back of the curtain, with the shanks on the side toward the casing or guides, and so arranged with respect to the latter as to travel easily therein. By attachingthe buttons in this manner the shanks ,serve as a means oi' preventing the wear of the edges of the shade against the guides. l

The position ofthe shade may be regulated by the ordinary cord and iixture, or by that shown in the drawing, which "consists of a slotted plate, F, carrying a roller, G, around which the cord passes, and a spring, H, which presses against the cord. By pressing the sprin g backward the cord canbereadily moved and the shade adjusted. hen released the spring will press against the cord, and thus hold the shade securely. This fixture, however, is no part ofthe invention herein claimed, as I intend to make a separate application for a patent on it.

By the arrangement here shown shades already in use may be easily changed, so as to always run evenly and jin their proper position on the ordinary straight rollers, whereas the curtains with doubled or pocketed edges heretofore used require a special construction of roller to make room for the double edges, to say nothing of the extra labor involved in making and preparing such pocketed shades. Another advantage that my invention has is, that in. the pocketed shades the rubbing of the shade-material against the edges of the guides soon wears out the pockets; but in my case the buttons take all the wear. A third advantage in my device is, that it allows the shade to yield under sudden gusts of wind, as

the air readily escapes at the side between l the buttons.

I am aware that the use of guides for shades, curtains, mosquito-netting, Ste., is not new, and therefore do not claim this, broadly but 1. The combination, with the grooved plates A, of the curtain C, having buttons attached at intervals on each side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the shade O, of a button, D, having a broad shank bent at right angles for attaching it to the shade, and a head adapted to travel in a groove, substantially as specified.

JOHN Gr. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. C. PREINKERT, .,H. A. HALL. 

